The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is a definite MUST SEE and you should not miss the opportunity to visit this beautiful house of allah. Be prepared to be impressed and awed. The mosque exudes an incredible sense of peace and tranquility and even non believers will feel a little spiritual touch. It is a unique experience for people of all religions.
Even if you are the most rigid atheist you will still enjoy the architectural beauty, colors and intricacies of this iconic structure.
The incredibly impressive Sheikh Zayed Mosque in Abu Dhabi is the largest mosque in the United Arab Emirates and the eighth largest in the world.
The mosque has the dimensions 224 times 174 meters, making place for 40,000 worshippers. The main dome over the prayer hall has a height of 75 meters. With a diameter of about 32 meters, it is the largest mosque dome in the world. The construction costs amounted to incredible 545 million dollars.
For the construction only very high-quality material was used, 15 different types of marble and endless sheets of gold leaf, among other things. Inside the mosque, you can find the largest chandelier in the world. Another superlative is the hand knitted carpet covering the inside of the mosque. With a staggering 5627 square meters and 47 tons of weight, it is the largest hand-knotted carpet of its kind in the world.
Men:
Men should enter the mosque only dressed in long trousers and t-shirts with sleeves. Shorts and muscle t-shirts are not allowed. For this emergency cases, the mosque provides free kanduras (the local white traditional dress).
Ladies:
Women may enter the mosque but they have to be respectfully and appropriately dressed. The clothing must be wide (no tight fitting skirts, trousers or shirts) and head, arms and legs must be covered.
There are free rental abayas available at the underground parking of the mosque but if you dont want to look like a grey smurf we recommend buying a traditional abaya before your visit to the mosque at Hamdan Center, Carrefour in Marina Mall or at Coop in Abu Dhabi Mall. They are available in simple styles for as little as AED60 (15€) and you will thank us when your family back home admires those cool holiday pictures.
Admission to the mosque is free
Visiting Hours:
Saturday-Thursday: from 9am to 10pm
Friday: morning closed (prayer timing) - opens only at 4.30pm
During Ramadan different times apply
Prayer Timings: Fajr 04:08am | Sunrise 05:31am | Dhuhr 12:21pm | Asr 03:46pm | Maghrib 07:10pm | Isha 08:40pm
The Big Bus Hop-On-Hop-Off Bus Tour stops here
